Bulgarian Socialist Party Outraged Over Promotional Clip Ban

Bulgarian Socialist Party claims its promotional 1st May clip was not run by national media because of political reasons. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Socialist Party filed a complaint that their promotional 1st May clip has not been broadcast on the national TV and radio.

Bulgarian socialists claim that their audio-video clip, announcing the protest meeting on 1st May, has not been released by any of the national broadcasters because BSP has firmly opposed the anti-crisis policy of the center-right GERB government.

In response, the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) has sent a letter to BSP, saying that the clip was not played because it does not correspond to the requirements for a commercial media message.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT), on the other hand, has refused to run the video because it includes shots of police operations that are subject to copyright.

Left-winger Petar Korumbashev said Thursday for Darik radio that the socialist party has not received permission from the Bulgaria's Interior Ministry to include the shots in their video clip, yet “these same shots have been broadcast thousands of times by other Bulgarian media. Hence it is absurd that BNT should now demand that the socialist party arrange copyrights with the Ministry”.

Also, according to Korumbashev, the video clip is a classic form of political advertising and BNT and BNR have fixed rates for such commercials.

The socialists have also expressed doubt that the pending changes in the number of members of the Bulgarian Council for Electronic Media (SEM) – membership will be brought down from 9 to 5 – is aimed at shifting power. According to Bulgaria's left-wingers, the SEM majority will be able to control the future digitalization of BNT and BNR.

Seven companies have filed bids for joining the contest for the construction of a multiplex, which will distribute the digital programs of the national state-owned television BNT and radio BNR, according to reports.

Bulgaria's telecoms regulator, the Communications Regulation Commission, has refused to disclose the names of the companies, citing the reshuffle that the watchdog is submitted to.

The analogue switch-off in Bulgaria should be wrapped up in December 2012.

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